"Ruby?" Caroline asked him. "And you know this because you are working with her?"

"No. She does not know I am with the Circus. And I am uncertain if she works with the Circus."

Caroline frowned. "Trent, I know that you know who the Belcourt rat is."

"I do."

"Are you saying that there could be more?"

"I cannot be certain. There are things Blackwood and Darcy do not tell us to protect our assets."

"And you suspect Ruby? Why?"

"Jade has been following her."

"How do you know?"

"Because you have been following them," he said, eyes sternly looking at her.

"You have men following me?"

"I have to because I cannot allow another attack on you."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "But Jade following Ruby does not mean Ruby is the rat."

"She may think Ruby is the rat."

"Darcy and Blackwood have more people inside Belcourt?"

"It is highly possible."

"Why?"

"Because of who Darcy is. And do not tell me to ask Darcy because I did, and I got nothing."

She huffed. "Now, you are making me frustrated and curious."

"I just want to know if Ruby can be trusted or not. And if she is a rat for the Circus, then she may be in danger with Jade. And soon, Belcourt will call for you. They will want to know about your mission. You cannot just spew Ruby's name."

"You are saying now that you want me to protect her from your Belle and Belcourt."

"No, of course not. You can barely handle yourself with a knife."

"I had one stuck into my midriff, Trent, I can handle myself with a knife."

"Not funny, Carol."

"So Ruby may be in danger?"

"She may be. But for now, as I try to contact Darcy and confirm, we have to be careful with how we deal with her."

Caroline moistened her lips again. "She is Aaron Stanway's Belle, after all. She is an asset." Caroline shook her head. She walked over to the bed. "This is making my head spin."

"If you are having trouble, you can always go home. Do you want to get out of Belcourt now?"

She glared at the sound of his hopeful tone. "What good would it bring you if I go home?"

"For one, you will be safer."

She nodded. "Go on. What else?"

"You will be with your family."

"And?"

"And you will no longer have to pretend."

"I rather enjoy the pretense."

"For now, you may. But you will regret it." He stood before her. "Soon, you will hate every second."

She swallowed. She did not want to argue tonight, so she said, "I just found out that my maids are working with Aliya until this moment."

Trent sighed. "And?"

"I intend to make them my comrades."

He scoffed at her incredulously. "Your comrades?"

"I need one."

"Am I not enough?"

"You are not always available."

His jaw tightened.

She stood and smiled at him. "Now, should I drag Robert back in here? I truly do not think it is safe that I spend the night here."

He frowned at her. Caroline knew he sensed the change in her temperament.

"Carol, please be honest with me. Are you truly doing fine?" he asked.

She nodded. "Yes." Liar, her mind whispered. "Do not fret, Trent. I can handle this." She walked over to him and planted a kiss on his cheek. The act was familiar, for she had done it many times before, but she also knew that something had changed.

She may think she knew why, but she was afraid to recognize it because it meant she would have to reconsider many things.

⠒♣◆♣⠒

Caroline had to spend nearly the entire morning assuring Fatima that her secret was safe with her.

"I will not allow a child to lose his mother, Fatima. I am not heartless," she told the crying woman.

Fatima may not fully trust her now, but Caroline had to earn the woman's trust if she wanted them to be loyal to her as much as they were with Aliya.

There would be more time to talk with Fatima about her secrets once they returned to Coulway.

"For now, be at ease," she told Fatima before she went out that morning to break her fast. "When we return to Coulway, the four of us shall have a talk. But be assured, Fatima, that I will protect you, Carrie and Shay."

"Thank you, my lady," Fatima sniffed.

"Now stop crying. People may begin to think I mistreat you," he jested before walking out the door.

The third day of the party was as uneventful as the second one. The gentlemen played a game by the beach while the ladies satisfied themselves in the picnic or indoors where there was enough tea and gossips.

Caroline tried her best to ignore Jade and Trent. In fact, she thought she was doing very well ignoring them. Trent would look her way and she would not even flinch. Whenever his eyes were on her, she could feel it, but she had developed the amazing ability to summon a motionless state. Not a good tactic, but better than getting restless.

While Jade was busy with Trent, Caroline focused more on getting to know Ruby. She noticed that the woman was in her most natural state whenever she was with her gentleman, always laughing gaily and freely.

However, whenever Jade was around, Ruby was a little more restrained. It was not very obvious, but the more Caroline was exposed to the woman, the more she was seeing the signs.

The third night she slept alone, Caroline's thoughts filled with questions.

Was Trent with Jade at that moment? Was the woman getting what she wanted from her flower?

The questions kept her awake until the wee hours when her mind shut down with weary.

On the fourth night, everyone was no longer as keen to stay longer in the ballroom. The ladies scattered, joining the men in the gaming rooms, walk by the beach, or for some, retire to bed with their lovers.

Caroline spent more time with her friends and their gentlemen. Robert, however, was invited to one of the gaming rooms by the Duke of Islefield, among others. It was then that Caroline realized Robert's true intentions in coming here. Of course, the man had to spy on the duke while Trent preoccupied the Belles with something else.

Caroline tried to ignore Jade's wandering hands on Trent's thigh as he was engaged in a conversation with Aaron. Did that mean she received pleasure last night? It may have been long ago since she had a lover, but Caroline could read the signs. She knew when a woman was sexually pleased.

But Jade was a terrific actress. It could be all for show.

She stole Trent a glance. She could just ask him and he would not lie to her. But she could not bring herself to do it.

She turned to Ruby, who gave her a sweet smile, beckoning for her to stand.

"We are going to get more wine," Ruby said to Aaron. "Would you like a glass, Jade, dear?"

Jade secured her hand over Trent's knee and shook her head. "Trent does not like it when I get foxed, Ruby, you know that."

Ruby snickered. "Ah, yes. Who can ever forget your many embarrassing moments?"

Caroline stole Trent a glance, but his attention was on Aaron. She smiled at Jade before she turned to walk arm in arm with Ruby to the refreshment table.

"I wish your flower is more attentive," said Ruby. "You must feel uncomfortable alone with no one to charm you."

"I am with fellow Belles," Caroline replied, taking the wine Ruby handed her. "I am charmed enough." She looked around. "Being here is rather nice, with or without Robert. This is a rather charming place."

"It is, is it not?" Ruby agreed, craning her neck to the side. "Do you see that gentleman? The one with the green cravat?"

Caroline nodded, eyes on the man.

"He has been staring at you since you walked into the room."

"He must not be used to the hair."

Ruby snorted. "Not the hair, Carol, you," her friend corrected. "His mouth is watering, I can see it."

Caroline laughed, turning to face Ruby. "Stop it. My face is flushing, is it not?"

Ruby shook her head. "Not flushed enough, darling. You need more wine."

Another laugh rumbled out of Caroline's throat.

A few more glasses later, she and Ruby had forgotten that they had to return to their company and had wandered out into the garden. And Caroline did not want to return and sit face to face with Jade and Trent. "I feel dizzy," Ruby said. "We should not have drunk too much."

"I agree," Caroline said, and then hiccupped. She and Ruby laughed at their silliness, slumping to the nearest stone bench.

Then, out of nowhere, Caroline lay her head on Ruby's shoulder and her tears just flowed. She did not even know why she was crying. Ruby bent her head to steal her a look, a frown on her beautiful face. "Caroline! Oh, God, what is the matter?" Ruby asked, her arm suddenly wrapping around Caroline's shoulders.

"I do not know," she said, sniffing. "I do not know why I'm crying."

"Oh, darling..." Ruby turned and wrapped her in an embrace. "Cry for as long as you want, yes?"

Many moments later, Caroline heard Jade's voice coming from the veranda.

"What is the matter?" Jade asked, suddenly standing in front of them.

Caroline pushed away from Ruby's embrace and wiped her face. "Nothing. Simply foxed!" she said, forcing out a laugh. And then she froze, realizing that Jade was not alone. Behind her were Aaron and Trent. Aaron was looking at her with curious sympathy while Tent looked impassive, his eyes boring into hers. "I need to retire," she said, jumping to her seat.

Jade tried to stop her, face filled with concern, but she gently pushed the woman away, fighting the shiver of loathing the woman's touch brought her. "Good evening, gentlemen," she said to both Aaron and Trent before she briskly made her way back into the manor, cursing herself under her breath for showing such vulnerability.

And to make it worse, she did something stupid. She looked over her shoulder and saw Jade looping her arm around Trent's.

How could he stomach it?

There, she finally asked the question.

She hated that she had to ask because she knew she was fine with it in the past. Bloody hell, she was mildly fine with it the other day!

And then she chuckled with a bitter taste at the back of her throat. She was the one who insisted on it, was she not? She practically threw him toward Jade. So why was she being a bloody bitter wench?

Brushing more tears from her face with the back of her hand, Caroline sought for her room, evading as much people as she could. It took two more wrong turns to realize that she was missing. With a frustrated groan, she leaned against one wall and covered her face with her hands and she began to shake. Again.

What was wrong with her tonight?

She heard footsteps coming from the corridor she came from, and she hastily straightened and wiped her face. She looked to the left and found a dead end. To the right was dimly lit corridor, perhaps housing empty bedchambers.

She did not care that she was lost. She could easily find her way later. Her concern was to be alone so she could gather her thoughts and not appear like a complete idiot in front of the woman who nearly succeeded in killing her.

She pushed away from the wall as the footsteps neared and moved to escape into one of the rooms.

Then a hand grasped hers, and Trent was pulling her down the corridor.

She gasped, and eyes wide with horror, she looked over her shoulder to see if they were alone. They were, but it was not safe!

She tried to pull away, but his grip was strong. He pushed open the last door and pulled her inside.

He let go of her hand and blocked her path to the door. "What is wrong, Carol?" he demanded, voice serious and laced with concern. "What happened? Did Ruby say something? What?"

A part of her realized she was in the presence of her best friend, and he still cared dearly for her. Her tears flowed again, even more uncontrollable this time.

She tried to turn away and hide, as though the dark room was not enough, but he anticipated her move and his chest was in front of her in a second, followed by a long, gentle sigh, and then she was wrapped in his warmth.

"Carol," he softly whispered in her ear, pulling her closer to him. "You know your tears are safe with me."

As though it could not get any worse, Caroline began howling. She was frustrated with herself. She knew she wanted this. But why was she having these feelings?

Trent was silent and patient, giving her time to control herself. But the very fact that she was in his arms and that it felt she was back in Remington, being Lady Caroline again, was not helping at all. It made her want to go back. It made her regret this whole bloody thing.

His hand ran up and down the back of her head while the other secured her against his length. He felt like crackling fire in winter, morning dews in spring, silk stockings, satin ribbons, and many more. He felt like her favorite things, all wrapped up in one giant present she did not deserve.

And so Caroline cried some more.

⠒♣◆♣⠒

The room was quiet and dark with merely scant moonlight to offer them light.

They were both standing side by side against the wall, both quiet and lost in their own thoughts.

Finally, Trent rolled his head to look at her. She did the same. He must be seeing the same thing—faint light outlining his face, grazing one side of his nose, the corner of his lips, and scintillating his eyes.

She reached up to tuck strands of his hair behind his ears. "Your hair is getting long."

"You do not like it?"

"No."

He faintly smiled as he searched her eyes. "Did you hate seeing me with her tonight?"

"Were you hoping I will be jealous?"

He blinked. "Why would you be?"

"Because I am."

His brows rose.

She rolled her head to face the rest of the room. "And because I hate her."

He chuckled. "Do not let her win by being the one who hates the most."

"I want to kill her every bloody time I see her, Trent. You do not know how much."

He did not reply.

"I cannot imagine how you can bear to let her touch you."

He scoffed. "I have a trick."

"Should I ask what it is?"

He turned his head away from her, looking at the same space before them. "It might lead to another argument."

Caroline blinked, then swallowed. "What is your trick?"

She knew he was smiling. "I imagine I am with someone else."

Her breath caught in her throat, and she wanted to cry again. She bit her lips as they quivered.

"When you talk?"

"She does not sound as intelligent and sensible as the one I imagine, but I still try."

She smiled. "Whatever you do?"

He sighed. "Whatever we do."

She willed herself to turn her head and look at him as she asked, "When you kiss?"

He turned, and his eyes caught hers. "It has been quite a while, but yes."

"It must be hard," she whispered.

"No, not really," he said, then he shrugged. "But I realized my imagination has been terrible."

"How so?"

He raised his hand and cupped her face. "Because I found out kissing you was far more than I imagined it to be," he said, voice raw and true.

What followed was not unexpected. They knew what they were doing when he pulled her head toward him and she glided into his arms.

What made her think that night in Birth was enough?

It was not.

She wanted more.

She wanted him.

His hands cupped her face as he kissed her, truly kissed her with every intent to make her believe everything he had said just moments ago.

And at that moment, she questioned herself again. She thought of the things that would ruin this moment, and she hated herself for it.

Yes, Jade did not deserve him, but she also did not deserve him.

But who deserved Trent Durham?

None, because he was too good for anyone.

He deserved whatever he wanted, whoever he needed.

But was she prepared for it? Was she ready to know that it might not be her?